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They limited Phil Kessel’s impact, out-shot the visitors, and, in general, out-played the Toronto Maple Leafs until the final buzzer.

But still, despite all of their efforts, the Calgary Flames took one on the chin Wednesday evening and dropped a 4-2 decision at the Scotiabank Saddledome while Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier faced 43 attempts from the home side.

“We’re not very pleased with the result, but I don’t know what more we could have done,” said head coach Bob Hartley, who had made a late decision to scratch underproducing centre Mikael Backlund. “Offensively, we generated a lot. Our forechecking was good, our puck decisions in the offensive zone were very good.

Which has been the Leafs’ theme this season, good goaltending from both Bernier and James Reimer, but, there’s no denying Phil Kessel’s nine goals and nine assists in 13 games has made a difference.

The odd thing is, though, as a group, the Leafs haven’t shot the puck a lot this season, averaging only 26.8 shots per game heading into the game (fourth-worst in the league).

So, Wednesday’s outcome should not come as a big surprise.

And neither should the Flames effort, according to Matt Stajan.

We’re a relentless group,” said Stajan. “I don’t think you’re ever going to see us quit on a game at all this year. Even to that point, we were dominating that game. They took advantage of a couple plays . . . but I think we controlled the play for the most part of the night.”

Without their captain Mark Giordano — out six-to-eight weeks with a broken ankle — and one of their most dependable forwards Lee Stempniak — down with a broken foot — it was up to the Flames’ other capable veterans.

Stajan put his team within one late in the second period, ripping a snapshot off a Curtis Glencross feed. A good response to an awkward hit on a pivoting Derek Smith by Leafs forward Carter Ashton (Shane O’Brien also stuck up for Smith by giving Ashton a piece of his mind/fists).

Still, they were still down 2-1 after two periods even after out-shooting the Leafs 20-8 in the frame.

But they could have rolled over at that point. Especially after Leafs defenceman David Clarkson capitalized on a T.J. Brodie turnover in the neutral zone which led to Cochrane native and Leafs free-agent signing Mason Raymond putting Toronto up 3-1 just 5:59 into the third period.

They didn’t, though, and David Jones scored with less than five minutes to go.

Unfortunately, an ineffective power play that went 0-for-5 (including two missed opportunities in the third) and Bernier’s effort eventually did them in, despite out-shooting Toronto 43-22.

The loss snapped Calgary’s three-game win streak at home and dropped them to 5-5-2 while the Leafs improved to 10-4-0.

Paul Ranger’s empty-netter with 1:22 remaining sealed the deal for the Leafs.

“I hope the hockey gods remember tonight for us and pay us back somewhere,” Hartley said. “At the same time, we create our own chances and our momentum . . . our guys deserve a lot of credit.”

Kessel, toting a four-game point streak into the Dome on Wednesday, was held off the scoresheet and finished the night a minus-one with one giveaway.

But the Flames had other frustrations early on — like when they’d set the tone with eight shots on net and Joffrey Lupul goes and scores on Toronto’s third shot of the game.

And when the Leafs made it 2-0 — short-handed! — with four seconds remaining in the first period when James van Riemsdyk beat Karri Ramo under his glove side.

Meanwhile, the Flames were getting snakebit offensively. Glencross rang a post. On a first-period power play, Sean Monahan missed the net off a perfectly placed Kris Russell point shot. Joe Colborne, who started the game against his former team and led the forwards with 23:54 of ice time, also had a nice chance on the same man advantage but fanned.

Brian McGrattan even got into it, dropping his gloves with Toronto’s Frazer McLaren in his first bout of the season.

But, unfortunately, the efforts weren’t rewarded.

“Too many goals,” Russell said. “They have a lot of guys that can put pucks away. We just didn’t do enough to win. There were times that we really dominated, I thought. But one or two mistakes . . .”

Next up for the Flames are the visiting Detroit Red Wings before the group heads out on a four-game road trip through Chicago, Minnesota, St. Louis, and Colorado.

ICE CHIPS . . . A surprising element was Hartley’s decision to scratch Mikael Backlund, who had been demoted to the fourth line on Saturday against the visiting Washington Capitals.

He had skated there in Wednesday’s morning skate with Lance Bouma and Brian McGrattan. But, instead, Hartley inserted the gritty Tim Jackman into the lineup at puck-drop which was also a message to the pivot.

“Toronto is a big, physical, tough team,” Hartley said. “We needed to add some muscle and I sat with Backs. I’m a big fan of this young man . . . I told him I need more from him. I’m not pleased with his game and so is he. He’s man enough he said he needs to do more. It was not a message or anything, but I told him if he was playing better and contributing offensively in a better way.”

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Flames run into a hot goalie, drop back to .500 after falling 4-2 to visiting Leafs

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